Winding reel



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1946. w. scHRoEDER WINDING REEL Filed oct. 19, 1942 Feb. 5, 1946. v I w, SCHROEDER 2,394,504

WINDING REEL Filed Oct. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 5, 1946 WINDING REEL William Schroeder, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 19, 1942, Serial No. 462,465

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in winding reels and its purpose is to provide an improved reel for winding strip steel and the like in spiral coils. The present invention is an improvement upon that described in the copending application of Chester M. MacChesney for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 395,967, filed May 3l, 1941, Patent No. 2,299,101, October 20, 1942, and upon the invention described in the copending application of Allen B. Wilson, Serial No. 462,- 457, led October 19, 1942.

In said application of Chester M. MacChesney there is disclosed an improved winding reel in which the power for effecting rotation is applied directly to the segments on which the strip material is wound and in which the expansion of the annular series of segments is effected, and their contraction controlled, by a tapered expanding member mounted for movement by power means longitudinally of the axis of the reel. In that construction the segments are anchored securely at one end and the power for rotating the core of the reel is applied directly to the segments at points adjacent the region where the coil of strip material is wound, thus overcoming any tendency of the segments to tilt or twist during the winding operation. The parts are preferably so formed that the segments and the expanding member have only an annular line contact with each other in all but one of the positions of the expanding member, which may correspond to the expanded condition of the core, so that the resistance to movement of the expanding member is comparatively limited.

In the improved type of winding reel just referred to, the lateral edges of the segments of the core on which the metal strip is wound are spaced apart when the core is expanded in order to permit the core to be contracted when it is desired to remove a coil of wound material and the inner co-nvolutions of the coil are therefore not supported by a continuous cylinder during the winding operation, with the result that the inner convolutions are bent slightly where they pass over the edges f the segments and may have their surfaces marred. In the said application of Allen B. Wilson, there is disclosed an improved winding reel of the type referred to in which th'e spaces between the segments are occupied by auxiliary members or segments when the core is expanded, thus forming a continuous annular surface for engagement with the inner convolution of the coil being wound. In the said improvement of said last-named application, a continuous annular surface may be obtained in the expanded condition of the core by employing an annular series of segments, some of which are expanded and contracted in such timed relation to the independent expansion and contraction of the others that a continuous annular surface is formed only when all of the segments are fully expanded.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a winding reel of the improved type referred to having a core comprising inner and outer segments, the inner segments being adapted by their outward movement to effect the expansion of the outer segments and being provided with outer surfaces which form continuations, in effect, of the outer surfaces of the outer segments when all of the segments are in their outer positions. A further object is to provide a winding reel comprising a core made up of a plurality of annular series of radially expansible and contractible segments, the segments of one series having wedging engagements with those of the other series. Still another object is to provide a winding reel having a core made up of a plurality of series of segments in combination with an axially movable expanding member having an annular wedging surface arranged to coact with Wedging surfaces formed on the inner sides of the segments of one series, the segments of each series having wedging engagements with adjacent segments of another series, whereby the longitudinal movement of the expanding member effects radial expansion of the segments of all of the series. Another object is to provide a Winding reel having a core made up of an inner series and an outer series of segments having wedging engagements with each' other on their lateral sides adapted t0 eifect relative radial movement of the segments of the two series in combination with an expanding device having Wedging engagements with the inner sides of the segments of the inner series only. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from theV following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section through a winding reel having its core expanded for engagement by a coil of strip material which is being wound thereon;

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal vertical section similar to that of Fig. 1 with the segments of the core contracted to permit the removal of the coil Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the core and Asv illustrated in the drawings, the windingreel comprises a core I made up of a plurality of outer segments I I and a plurality of inner segments I2 arranged to be expanded by anraxially Y movable expanding member I3. The outer segments II are provided with arcuateV surfaces I-Ia and the innerrsegments I2 are provided on their outer sides with arcuate surfaces 'I2a and, Vwhen a complete surface contact between the Wedging surfaces I 2e and the Wedging surfaces I39- and I3b only Vin one position of the expanding member I3, which is preferably the position corresponding to the expanded condition of thercore, thus giving adequate support to the segments during the'time when a transverse load is put' upon the core due to the tension inthe strip being wound, to the weight kof the'coil being formed Vand to the contractile force set up by the coiling y s of the coil. At other times, the surfaces I2e will have only more limited contacts with'the surfaces I3a and Ib, thus materially reducing the .friction-a1 area resisting vaxial movement of the expanding member. The expanding member is adapted tobe moved axially by the rod I'I which Y nts within a tubular bore formed within the exy /panding vmember I3 and which is provided at the inner end of that member with an enlargement I'IEL partially fitting Within an enlargementof the bore 'in the member so that a seat isformed the' 'core is expanded, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thefs'urfaoes I Ia and I2, -being arranged altermately; form .a "continuous cylinder upon which a coil of strip steel Ill-or the like is 'adapted to be wound. The outer end portions ofthe segments I I upon which the winding takes place, are

sulrlistantiallyV triangular inv cross section, being -eachprovided with inwardly converging Wedging surfacesfllb which are adaptedto coact with ments I-2. These wedging "surfaces may prefersimilarly inclined outwardly converging wedging 1 j surfaces I2b formed on veach of the inner VsegablyY make angles of about 45 degrees with the l1`"'ao'lii"o`fA the "core, The opposite contacting faces "I'Ib "and I2b of adjacent segments 'are vprovided withfcdmplementary keyways and a key VI5 is scuredfinonekeyway and arranged Yto have a fsliding engagement "with theV leyway of the ad jacent'segme'nt -in order to hold the inner'segments vI2 'against relative 'axial movement with respect to the outersegments, Nwhich is desirable whenthe inner segments arefnot vextended longiltudir'ially and secured Aat their'inner ends as the beter-lamentare, t t. o

'Ifhe outer'segments I Iproject-through the open vendoi a housing] Biandlare of considerable length i brit fthe inner segments' I2 and 'the -expanding in ',Fi'gs. 4 and 5. vv"I'lre'in'ner segments I2 are also providedwith 'inwardly extending projections I 2d on which are formed Wedging surfaces I2e infcl'inedlngitu'dinally of the'core These wedging surfaces'are larcuate transversely ofthe axis of the core and are Y:adaptedy to -coactwith the anflnular weclging 'surfaces 13a and AI'tlwvhich are formed on the expanding member lf3. This expanding "member has two ani'iu'lar enlargements upon which thesew-edging surfaces lare formed 'and each enlargementisin'the form of a trunlc 'ate'd cone. The twoienlarged portionson which connected b y an intermediateoylindrical portion If3 of reduced `dia'rneter and-these annular wedg- A'ing" surfaces' andthe complementary wedgingisur- :faces lize farmed en `the1li-inter segments of 'the core are preferably-so drniedthat therevvill'be against which the expanding member-may beV heldv against endwise movement. The expanding member is held in'this "position with respect to the rodl bya 'nut I-iwhich eng-ages the threaded end of the rod Vand which' Vmay be pinned Yor "otherwise located in po-sition vto prevent its 'accidental removal. l

The outerV segments II are provided vvithrearV wardly extending integralfsupporting arms IIg VVwhich project into the housing I6 andwhich are provided at their rear'ends with Yenlarged `portions `I Ih secured lin apertures 2Ilav formed'in a spider or drum 2U. 'The inner segments could also be thus extended and connected to the drum 20 but Vit is now preferred to terminate the innerVVV segments short ofthe housing andsecure lthem against 'longitudinal' displacement by the keys I5. This vspider 20 has a vhubportion provided with "a bore 20b in Awhich the 'rod I] is lslidab'ly and rotatably mountedand 'this' hub portion of the spider 'is journaled ina roller bearing unit 2| `se- 'cured in the rear end wall Ilia 'of the housing.

' -The portions YI'Ii 'of lthe arms I'Ig of the -uterseg ments 'which'lare adjacent to -the spider `20 are curved'in cross section v'transversely ofthe rod "I1 Y 'and' are 'resilient s'orthat they permit some VA-flexing m 'inber I-'B'preferablyterminate short-of the end i 'fo thehousing IB and it is these parts located 1 'vithout "then housing which constitute the core Y"proper on whi-ch'the coil 4is formed. The inner y A `segments I"2-pr'oje ct radially inward beyond the f Vouter segmentsfl'l `Yandfare provided ontheir V-latealsides V.with radial 4faces I2c which are `V`adapted Vtozcontact Witneach other von adjacent segments when lthe Vc'ore is contracted as shown of 'theseginentsin this region to lallow-'the forw'ard portions of VtheV segments to expand v'and contract in response to changes in positionoi 'the-expanding memberIfS. y

The Vmovement bf' the V'expanding member l'I3' for -thepurpos'e ofi'eontrollingfthe expansion 'and contraction of the core-Illisfeifectedby-a piston 2d which iis connected to'jthe rod IT and Ywhich is mounted to reciprocateinafcylin'der 2 5. This r'cfylillder has `-`a for-'Ward extension y25eY provided with'an annular Tflange Q'hyvhhichA seats against 'the' outer 4facef a-fplateV 26,-the vflange 'and the vplate vbeing"secured,toltl'ie lrear'endjof thejho'u'sing It 'withfa fcircul'ar projection 26a Yof vthe plate nttingf partially into fthe aperturein which vthe extends 'and 'a Vpack-ingvv ring 'I is Arnountediin a l 'gr'oc'fe around this kopening to bear against 'lthe rod and thusio'rin a'dust-'tight'connection beeV tweenthelrod andthe plate.V

The piston' is loosely engagedfbytjhefrod during the normalrotationoffthe windingreel a 'ballbearin-gunit 28ismonnted; on the re- Aducedend -I l? of the rod withmpanjannular recess 's'ton I1 to hold it in fixed longitudinal position with respect to the ball bearing unit 28 and the piston 24. The central passage 24b of the piston is loosely engaged by the rod I1 and is provided with bushings 30 in which the rod is adapted to rotate. The piston is provided at its forward end with a tubular extension 24 which slidably engages an aperture formed in the end wall 25 of the cylinder. This end Wall of the cylinder is provided with a stuffing box surrounding the tubular extension 24 of the piston and this stuifing box is filled with packing material 3l which is adapted to be compressed by the packing gland 32 attached to the end face of the cylinder, thus forming a fluid tight connection around the tubular extension 24 of the piston. A metal cap 24d closes the rear end of the piston 24 and extends over the end of the rod I1 and the nut 2S. When the piston 24 is in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. l, corresponding to the expanded condition of the core, a space 33 is provided between the cap 24d of the piston and the head 25d of the cylinder. This head has an inwardly extending flange 25 which nts within the cylinder and limits the rearward movement of the piston. Compressed air or the like is adapted to be admitted to the space 33 through a pipe 34 leading from an air compressor or the like and another supply pipe 35 is adapted to supply compressed air through a passage 25 in the front wall of the cylinder to the space between that front wall and the forward end of the piston 24. In order to insure an annular space between this end wall 25 of the cylinder and the adjacent end face of the piston, these parts are provided adjacent the extension 24 of the piston with annular projections 24f and 2 5g which are adapted to contact each other when the piston 24 is in its extreme forward position. lThe piston 24 is provided with an annular circumferential recess 24h occupied by a quantity of packing material 36 which provides a fluid tight connection between the piston and the surrounding Wall of the cylinder.

By admitting compressed air or the like through the pipe 35 to the forward end of the cylinderl 25, the piston 24 may be moved to the right as viewed in Fig. l, thus expanding the segments of the core by the wedging action of the expanding member I3 upon the wedging surfaces I2 of the inner segments and the resulting wedging action of the surfaces I2b of the inner segments on the wedging surfaces IIb of the outer segments. When that condition is brought about, the outer surfaces I2 of the inner segments form continuations of the outer surfaces IIa of the outer segments so that a continuous cylindrical surface is formed to receive the winding of strip material I4. When a full coil of strip material has been formed, compressed air is admitted to the space 33 at the rear end of the cylinder through the pipe 34 and the piston 24 is then actuated to move the expanding member I3- toward the left to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position the segments of the core are permitted to contract, as hereinafter described, by the relative sliding movements of the inner and outer segments upon each other and by the sliding of the inner segments upon the expanding member I3 so that the core is thereby contracted from the condition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the condition shown by full lines in that gure. During this contraction, the arms IIg of the outer segments are flexed about their resilient parts IIi and the outer projecting portions of the segments assume positions which are somewhat inclined toward the axis of the core, thus giving the core a slight taper toward its outer end which facilitates the removal of the coil of wound material. f

The driving force for effecting the rotation of the core is applied to the outer segments adjacent the forward end of the housing I6 and this force is thus applied at a place which is in proximity to the region where the coil of strip material is Wound on the core. For this purpose, a driving gear 40 is located in the forward end of the housing I6 with its annular flanges 40 and 40 journaled in ball bearing units 4I and 42, respectively, which are mounted at the inner margins of the flanges Ib and IGC which are formed on the housing I6 to extend radially inward from its outer wall. The flange |61 has an extension Id provided with an annular groove in which is-mounted a sealing ring 43, formed of felt or the like, by which the access of dust to the roller bearing unit 4I and to the interior of the housing is prevented. The driving gear 40 is provided on its outer side with teeth 40 which mesh with the teeth of the driving pinion 44, shown in Fig. 6, this pinion being secured upon a driving shaft 45. This shaft is adapted to be connected to an electric motor or other source of power by which the core may be rotated during the winding operation. In order to form a driving connection between the gear 40 and the outer segments of the core, the gear is provided on its inner side with a series of spaced teeth 40d which enter the notches IIj formed in the segments I I, these notches or recesses being located at the marginal edges of the segments with the two registering notches of two adjacent segments arranged to receive one of the teeth 40d. The notches are of suicient depth to permit radial movement of the segments within the gear to the extent that may be necessary to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the segments in response to longitudinal movements of the expanding member I3. The teeth 40d are tapered and have wedging engagements with the inclined sides of the notches IIj so that, when the core is expanded, the segments II and the ring gear 40 form, in effect, a unitary structure t0 which the driving force is applied. By thus applying the driving force at intermediate parts of the outer segments of the core, any tendency of these segments to tilt or twist longitudinally or laterally under the influence of stresses applied thereto during the winding operation is reduced.

As heretofore stated, the movement of the rod I1 and of the expanding member I3 toward the left, as shown in Fig. 1, permits the segments of the core to be contracted inwardly to the contracted condition shown in Fig. 2. The contraction of the segments when the expanding 'member I3 is thus moved to its forward position is effected by fluid pressure mechanism which includes a series of cylinders 46 which extend radially inward from the outer Wall of the housing I6 with their outer ends secured between the flanges I6 and another annular inwardly extending fiange Ie which is formed on the inner wall of the housing. A series of cylindrical pistons 41 are mounted to reciprocate in these cylinders 46 and they have inner rounded ends 41a which are adapted to contact with the outer faces of the arms IIlg of the outer segments II of the core. The outer ends of these cylinders are provided with a series of ports 46 having `connections with supply pipes 48a leading .from

an annular supply pipe yI8 positioned within ithe housing I6. adjacent to the ange IBS. Compressedair or the like is adapted yto be supplied to the pipe i8 through a supply .pipe'49, shown .in Fig. '7, `and when compressed A.air .or thelike Vis admitted to theY cylinder 25 for .the purpose of moving the expanding member 'I3 yto 'the -posi-r tion -illustrated in Fig. compressedair or the i 'like is' simultaneously admitted through Vfthe Y pipe 't9 to the Various cylinders 45 so that 'the pistons ing :the rotation of .the yexpanded core, a coil spring i) is mounted ineach cylinder .116V around the reduced middle .portion .of the piston. 'One Ii'nne'r-:segmentsradiallyV outward uponV movement of sad expanding member longitudinally in'one direction, and .uid pressure operated means operating independently of said'expanding memv .ment'iof .said :expanding member longitudinally 1in Vthe opposite direction. i

2. The combinationin a winding reel, of. a Y

core comprising .a plurality Vof outer segments offsubstantial length vmounted forangular radialV end of the spring engages .a shoulder of vthe stood that'it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope ofthe ap- Vpended claims.

Iclaim: Y 1. The combination in .a winding reel, ofY a rotatable core comprising an annular series of segments, veach segment .being spaced :from the :adjacent segments and vhaving inwardly converging Wedging surfaces, an annular series `of inner i .segments eachl having .outwardly converging .Wedging surfaces coasting with two of .said Wedg- .ing surfaces formedon adjacent-outer segments,

. an expanding member movablelongitudinally of `said core, said expanding member and said yinner segmentsV having coacting :wedging surfaces linl clined longitudinally vofrsaid core forxmoving said movement vabout their .inner ends, the outer end `portions :of fsaid KYsegments being adapted to receive a coil of strip material Wound thereon, a

series of inner segments yextending along the coil receiving portion only of said outer segments and having wedging engagement Vwithk said outer end 'portions `of said outer segments, and meansenfgaginggsaidinner segmentsfor eiecting the radial expansion of both'seriesof Segments; 3. The eombinationin a winding reel, ,of a core comprising a plurality of outer segments Aof .substantial length mountedffor angular radial movementabout their inner ends, the outer end portions of said segments being adapted to receive 1a coil .of stripy material wound thereon, a series `of inner segments extending along -the ,coil receiving portion only ofsaid outer segments having wedging engagement withsaid outer end portions of said outer segments, means engaging saidinner segments for Veffecting the radial expansion of both series of segments, and means engaging said outer segments for effecting rotationof saidcore. 4. ,The Vcombinationin a winding reel, ofav core comprising a pluralityof outer segments of substantial length mounted for angular radial movement about their-innerends, the outer endportions of said segments being adapted jto receive a rcoil of strip Vmaterial wound thereon, a series of `inner vsegments .extending alo-ngV the `coil receiving portion only of said outer segments lhaving Wedging engagement with said outer end portionsV of said outersegments, means-engaging said inner Vsegments for eiecting the radial expansion of both vseries of segments, means 'having a fixed lposition .lengthwise of rsaid c ore and engag-gingY said buter segments for .effecting radial yinward movement of both'seriesof segments, and means 

